Gel Jose

Sarap-to-the-Bones Fried Chicken at Max’s, Tomas Morato

While I consider myself adventurous when it comes to food, I get a hankering for familiar and comfortable flavors every once in a while.

That’s why I dragged my officemates to a branch of Max’s Restaurant near our office for lunch. Aside from offering no-frills but exceedingly flavorful fried chicken, this branch also has sprawling grounds with some green spaces, which provided our eyes with a welcome break from our computer and gadget screens.

Max’s Restaurant had its start in 1945 when Stanford-educated teacher Maximo Gimenez befriended the American GIs stationed in Quezon City and invited them to his home for a drink or two. These visits led to their patronage of the cafe Maximo decided to build, with his sister, Ruby, developing a special recipe for tender, juicy and crispy fried chicken that won the hearts of both the Americans and Pinoys.

During that lunch break, Max’s is where my officemates and I were able to enjoy fuss-free yet tasty fried chicken (best enjoyed with Max’s Banana Ketchup!) and other Pinoy classics such as:

Chopsuey (Php249). The Pinoy’s go-to vegetable dish made with pork and shrimp bits sauteed together with fresh vegetables and chicken liver.

Half-Regular Chicken (Php216). The keto choice for the dieter in the group (spoiler: it wasn’t me!).

Basic Meal (Php199). A quarter fried chicken served with steamed rice, a glass of iced tea or soft drinks and a Caramel Bar.

Fiesta Plate (Php289). The Basic Meal plus choice of fresh or fried Lumpiang Upod (I prefer it fresh :-))

Chicken Leg Quarter with Rice Pork Sinigang and Pepsi (two for Php499).

Not a bad deal for a work day lunch break, yeah?

This Max’s Restaurant branch is located along Scout Tuazon Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City. During the Enhanced Community Quarantine, it will be open from 10am to 5pm and serving a limited menu for delivery. You may course your orders directly through its delivery numbers +63 2 83751032 05 +63 2 83751052, Max’s delivery website, GrabFood and Food Panda.

Other Metro Manila branches still operating during the Enhanced Community Quarantine include:

North Manila: Mindanao Avenue (+63 2 88916535), EDSA Caloocan (+63 2 86346501 | +63 2 86346502), Banawe (+63 2 83548804 | +63 2 83548805), Matalino Street (+63 2 89318958), Commonwealth (+63 2 89320810 | +63 2 89520841), Regalado / Robinsons Townville (+63 2 82820476), Taytay (+63 2 68606642 | +63 2 86606643), Antipolo Sumulong (+63 2 84705846), Congressional Avenue (+63 2 89280648), EDSA Eats Main Avenue (+63 919 0883844 | +63 2 79091911)
South Manila: Valero (+63 2 85198924), Las Pinas (+63 2 88730210), Sucat (+63 2 88252902 | +63 2 88252904), Malacanang (+63 2 77357925 | +63 2 74047365), Ermita (+63 2 85221076 to 77), Pasig Kapitolyo (+63 2 86969806), Market! Market! (+63 2 88867784), Shell C5 Heritage (+63 2 79785724), Forbestown (+63 998 9603867), Baclaran (+63 2 88321991)m Dona Soledad (+63 950 6574682 | +63 975 3665633 | +63 2 77533306)

Fuss-free Chinoy dinner at home, thanks to North Park Noodles, Cainta

This year’s Valentine’s Day dinner at home was easy and fuss-free, thanks to a nearby branch of North Park Noodles.

That Friday came at the end of a very busy work week and I was in no mood to worry about elaborate food preparation.

Well, technology came to the rescue. At that time, North Park Noodles offered a special Sama-Sama Bundle – a combination of dishes good for sharing available at a discount – to orders made through GrabFood.

For the past twenty-five years, North Park has been serving freshly cooked Chinoy comfort food – Pinoy takes on popular Chinese dishes – to its clientele.

For only Php888 (+Php45 delivery fee), the fam and I were able to feast on some of its best-sellers which included:

Yang Chow Fried Rice. A mainstay in many Chinese meals, this fried rice is made with white rice, char siu barbecued pork, shrimp, green peas, green onion, and eggs, which all come together to make for a filling rice dish.

Sweet and Sour Pork. Made with marinated pork pieces lightly covered in cornstarch, deep-fried to a golden brown then doused with a sweet-sour sauce.

Shanghai Rolls. The lumpiang shanghai we all know and love, served in bite-size pieces with a sweet chili sauce.

China Chicken. A half-serving of the simple Chinese-style fried chicken with crispy skin and tender meat.

All of these dishes – though Chinese in origin – feature familiar flavors that that we grew up with.

The fam’s Valentine’s Day dinner at home may be lacking in polish and pizzazz, but it allowed me to spend more time talking and bonding with the people I love.

This North Park branch is located at SM Hypermarket Cainta, Felix Avenue, Barangay Santo Domingo, Cainta, Rizal.

North Park Noodles delivers through its delivery hotline +63 2 87373737, through its website, and through GrabFood.

Download the Grab App on the App Store or Google Play. Get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Other branches in the metro are located at:

Pasig: The Strip Commercial Complex Ortigas
Mandaluyong: Greenfield District
Quezon City: SM Hypermarket Cubao, Tomas Morato, G. Araneta Avenue, Trinoma Mall, Banawe, Tandang Sora, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Eton Centris
Taguig: Market! Market!, SM Hypermarket FTI
San Juan: P. Guevarra Street (opposite Petron)
Makati: Makati corner Kalayaan Avenue, Glorietta 3, Salcedo Village, Legaspi Village, SM Hypermarket Market
Paranaque: SM City Bicutan, ASEANA Square
Manila: Manila Ocean Park
Pasay: Mall of Asia Arena Parking Building
Valenzuela: South Supermarket
Alabang: Alabang Town Center, South Supermarket
Muntinlupa: SM Center Muntinlupa

Check out my reviews of other Asian restaurants:

A delish taste of Asia at Wangfu Chinese Cafe, Tomas Morato

Stuck at home but want a break from your usual home-cooked dishes?

Why not go Asian?

If you live near Tomas Morato, don’t worry; there’s no need to go out to buy cookbooks and exotic ingredients (stay at home, people!). You can simply have Chinese and Singaporean dishes delivered right where you are because Wangfu Chinese Cafe in Il Terrazo Mall delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda!

Based on my previous #HappyLunch experiences with my officemates at this resto, may I recommend some dishes included in its pick-up and delivery menu for your enjoyment?

Hot and Sour Soup (Php288). A spicy and sour soup made that whets the appetite for more.

Spare Ribs (Php98). Steamed pork ribs that you can gnaw on as a starter to your meal.

Pork Siomai (Php128). The traditional Chinese-style dumpling filled with ground pork mixed with vegetables that also serves as a great appetizer for any Asian meal.

Hong Kong Style Pork Chop Rice (Php198). This Singapore-style hawker rice toppings dish features crisp deep-fried chops doused in a cheesy cream sauce over a bowl of steaming-hot rice.

Singapore Bihon (Php138). A hearty noodle dish that combines meat bits and veggies with stir-fried thin noodles made from rice flour.

For me, the real winners among Wangfu’s offerings are the personal meal sets. These already come with rice, soup and salad (refillable if you’re a dine-in customer), giving you a complete meal.

General Tso’s Chicken Set (Php268). Named after the Qing dynasty statesman and military leader, this chicken dish features deep-fried chicken thigh pieces and crisp brocolli doused in a sweet-savory sauce.

Salted Egg Fried Chicken Set (Php268). Crisp fried chicken pieces covered in salted egg yolk.

Wangfu Hainanese Chicken Rice Set (Php298). One of Singapore’s all-time favorite dishes, this dish combines flavorful poached chicken with rice seasoned by the chicken’s fatty poaching stock and served with cucumber garnishing and three sauces: minced ginger in oil, chili paste and dark soy sauce.

I found that the Salted Egg Chicken also goes well with the chicken rice.

I also miss Wangfu’s Nanyang Milk Tea (+ Php48 to any order of Singaporean Hawker Rice Toppings), which is, unfortunately, not among the offerings available in the pick-up/delivery menu. Given that summer is here already, I would love it to be served cold to counter the spiciness in these Asian dishes. I’d definitely get myself another glass on my next visit after the community quarantine.

With such a yummy and hearty repast ready for delivery, staying ar home won’t be so bad now, would it?

Stay safe and I’ll see you on the other side, fellow foodies!

This Wangfu Chinese Cafe branch is located at Ground Floor, Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato Avenue Corner Scout Madrinan Street, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 10pm for pick-up (call +63 925 8035810) and delivery via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Download the Grab App on the App Store or Google Play. Get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Ground Floor, Phase 1, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Level 1, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Ground Level, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Balintawak, Quezon City
Lower Ground Floor, The Parkway, SM City Fairview, Novaliches

Check out my reviews of other Asian restaurants:

Lunch delivery from Pares Retiro, Tomas Morato via LalaFood

Before the community quarantine and the need to isolate ourselves in our homes began, I’m glad I was able to try something that will surely be a blessing in the days ahead.

LalaFood is a food delivery app that guarantees delivery of food orders within forty-five minutes or less with no minimum order required. (Note: Since the community quarantine was implemented, LalaFood has adjusted its delivery times in light of the increased demand for food delivery and its skeletal crew of riders.)

One busy workday, my friend and I could not find the time to get out of the office for our #HappyLunch. Not wanting to limit ourselves to the choices available in our office building’s food court, we grabbed our phones to look at the options available through the LalaFood App.

As luck would have it, one of the restos that deliver via LalaFood is the Pares Retiro branch nearby. Wanting a taste of Pinoy comfort food, we ordered ourselves variations of Beef Pares.

This dish is basically braised beef stew paired with garlic fried rice (hence the name pares) and usually served with clear soup. The beef cubes are simmered in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and other spices, resulting in tender meat and flavorful sauce that go so well with the garlic rice.

My friend ordered the Classic Pares (Php155) while I got myself a Pares Tendon (Php165), which is basically beef pares made even better with the addition of tender litid (tendon) that seems to melt into the sauce and provide a contrast in texture to the beef and rice with every mouthful.

I even got myself a can of Sarsi from the Ministop store across the street to complete my meal.

We ate our comfort food bounty at our desks, not exactly the way I’d like to enjoy my food, but at least I had some time to eat and get ready for my meetings after our midday break.

All things considered, I’d say it was still a happy lunch. Wouldn’t you?

This meal was ordered from the Pares Retiro branch located at 205 Tomas Avenue, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City via LalaFood.

Other Pares Retiro branches are located at:

P. Tuazon corner 17th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City
SM Hypermarket, EDSA corner Main Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City
344 Visayas corner Congressional Avenue, Pasong Tamp, Tandang Sora, Quezon City
Food Court, Fourth Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

6 Ways to Care for Your Body During Community Quarantine

Since the announcement of the city-wide community quarantine, many Filipinos have been coming to terms with the loss of basic necessities and services needed to maintain their busy lives. And while it can be incredibly difficult for many in Metro Manila to continue with their daily routine during this trying time, there are a number of things we can do to take care of ourselves in quarantine.

6 Ways to Self-Care During Quarantine

1. Regular Exercise
One of the best ways to take care of yourself during the quarantine is to workout. While going to the gym may not be an option, there are a number of routines you can do at home such as yoga, Zumba, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). In fact, some of the most popular fitness studios now offer free online classes through Facebook and Instagram to keep people motivated during the quarantine.

2. Enjoy a Free Show
Sure, it can be hard to go to the movies or see a live show, but that has not stopped the industry’s best from performing. Popular artists such as John Legend and Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie/The Postal Service) have begun livestreaming their performances to fans on social media. In addition, the Metropolitan Opera in New York City offers free livestreams of classics such as Puccini’s La Bohème. Who knew you didn’t have to leave your home or pay for an airplane ticket to experience a little culture?

3. Read a Book
As much as we don’t want to admit it, we all have a handful of books we haven’t read yet. With the entire city on quarantine and very little to do, it is now the perfect time to go through your pile of books to read. You never know, you may have had one of the best stories at your fingertips and you wouldn’t have known.

4. Pick-Up a New Hobby
It can be very easy to give in to cabin fever without a proper outlet. Stay calm. You have the internet. From candle making to crochet, or even learning how to play a new instrument, there is a whole world of skills you can learn without having to leave your home. Stay in, find a new hobby and discover a skill you never thought you could do.

5. Don’t Stop Working
Being locked up with nowhere to go can inspire our laziest traits. With many Filipinos working from home, comes the opportunity for us to actually get ahead of our work for once. By sticking to our regular 9:00AM – 6:00PM schedule, we can maintain a semblance of normalcy as we wait out the quarantine period.

6. Moisturize!
KimRey Face & Body Contouring Lounge is one of the newest aesthetic centers in Quezon City and Pasig. KimRey’s approved skincare hack is moisturizing. Like their facial treatments, the constant application of moisturizer is a must-have in order to repair your skin from cleaning and exfoliation. Don’t forget to properly sanitize your hands before and after your facial care routine. Hygiene is just as important as skincare!

Rejuvenate After Quarantine

KimRey Face & Body Contouring Lounge is currently closed until further notice. However, appointments can still be booked and KimRey’s experts are on standby to answer all your queries on social media (Instagram: @kimrey.ph and Facebook: KimRey Face & Body Contouring Lounge).

Located at Unit 8 & 9 3/F Richmond Centre 8001 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Bagumbayan, Quezon City, KimRey Face & Body Contouring Lounge offers a host of state-of-the-art, non-invasive cosmetic treatments that revitalizes the face and body with no downtime. Contact KimRey Face & Body Contouring Lounge at (0917) 119-5816 to learn more!

About KimRey Face & Body Contouring Lounge

Founded by sisters Claire Kimble, Anna Reyes, and Vanessa Lee, KimRey Face & Body Contouring Lounge provides world-class, state-of-the-art, minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures to working-class Filipinos all across Metro Manila.

Product details and images provided in a recent press release from Centaur Digital Marketing PH Inc.

The Jelly List: My fave resto dishes you can enjoy at home

Hello, fellow foodie! How are you holding up? I hope you’re safe at home and surrounded by your loved ones just like me.

After several days of being #TeamBahay, I have to admit: I may be getting a bit tired of home-cooking. (Yaya, don’t be tampo! Your cooking is great!)

I can’t help but miss those scrumptious, meticulously prepared, beautifully presented dishes from my favorite restaurants.

Do you feel the same?

Well, guess what: we can enjoy those wonderful viands at home, thanks to delivery services. (I panicked for a while when Gran and FoodPanda briefly suspended their services the other day. Thank heavens that’s all sorted out! Whew!)

So, if you have a craving for any of these delectable dishes, just contact the resto and have them delivered to you. Not only will you get to enjoy a fabulous meal in the safety and comfort of home, you also contribute to the continued health of these businesses.

Buttered Parmesan Chicken Wings of Buffalo Swing Cafe

Ooh, these tender and juicy chicken wings, deep-fried to crunchy goodness and flavored with a butter parmesan rub are perfect bites when you’re binge-watching movies on Netflix.

Buffalo Swing Cafe is located at 363 Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue, Caniogan, Pasig City. To order, call +63 2 86412561 or +63 917 7954554.

Buffalo Swing delivers via Food Panda.

Read more about Buffalo Swing Cafe here.

Martabak Manis of Sammy’s

If you have ever come across this delightful Indonesian dessert called Martabak Manis, I’m sure you will agree that it’s quite a treat. Made with thick pancake layers filled with chocolate sprinkles, crushed peanuts, cheese and condensed milk, it’s perfect for those late-night sweet cravings.

Sammy’s is located at 14 Raspberry Bend Street, Valley View Executive Subdivision Phase 3, San Juan, Cainta. To order, call +63 939 1483960.

Sammy’s delivers via Grab Express.

A Marugame Udon Power Lunch, thanks to GrabFood

Just to be clear: I’m a firm believer of the #HappyLunch, the practice of taking your precious lunch break by going out to eat at one of your favorite restaurants or trying out a new place together with your officemates. This is a great way to decompress and bond with your workmates after a busy morning at work.

Lately, though, this can’t always be possible, especially as we’re all encouraged to practice social distancing and avoid crowded areas.

So how can we office-based foodies enjoy the food we love when we can’t go out of the safety of the workplace?

Thankfully, the largest udon noodles restaurant chain in the world, Marugame Udon, delivers via GrabFood!

Marugame Udon is dedicated to provide Japanese authentic made-to-order Udon noodles which are freshly kneaded, boiled and cooked every day. These noodles are made according to the practices in Sanuki, a region in the Kagawa prefecture known for the quality of its udon. The noodles’ flavors and textures are further enhanced by the broths made by the restaurant in small batches to maintain quality.

My officemates and I all placed our orders for two of Marugame’s popular udon dishes thirty minutes before lunchtime (that’s how long the delivery will take).

They arrived hot and steaming, totally appetizing!

Beef Ontama Bukkake Udon (Php210 regular | Php260 large). Made with marinated gyudon beef strips, Japanese poached egg, and mildly sweet bukkake soup.

Chicken Paitan Udon (Php200 regular | Php250 large). Made with sauteed chicken, a soft boiled egg, and creamy chicken soup that calls to mind your favorite chicken sopas.

With their plentiful broth and thick and chewy noodles, these udon bowls are very filling and helped fuel our work for the remains of the workday. I certainly didn’t mind my desk lunch too much!

This meal was ordered from the Marugame Udon branch located at the Lower Ground Floor, Fisher Mall, Quezon Avenue, Del Monte, Quezon City via GrabFood. Download the Grab App on the App Store or Google Play. Get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Other branches in the metro are located at:

Upper Ground Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Phase 2, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Upper Ground Floor, Main Building, SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City
Ground Floor, SM City Marikina, Marcos ighway, Calumpang, Marikina City
Third Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Second Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Ground Floor, Main Mall, Ayala Malls Circuit, Carmona, Makati City
Third Floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Ground Floor, Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
B7, Bonifacio High Street, Lane P, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Family-style dining at 121 Restaurant, Allegro Center

Makati is a pretty bustlin’ place during weekdays but come the weekend, many of its happenin’ venues turn into relatively quiet spots where you and the fam can go for a meal.

Take 121 Restaurant at Allegro Center for example. After hours during weekdays, it may be a watering hole for Makati’s young urban professionals.

During one Saturday, however, it was the setting for a nice family-style lunch where my fellow foodies and I enjoyed 121’s take on down-home Pinoy dishes, such as:

121 Pork Sisig (Php289 solo | Php1,029 barkada). The staple of any Filipino dine-out experience, 121’s version is meaty and crunchy.

Empanada (Php39 per piece | Php159 for 5-piece sampler). Available in vegan steak picado, ham and cheese, chicken pastel, pulled pork and beef picadillo flavors.

Lumpiang Shanghai (Php219 solo | Php839 barkada). Remember those lumpias that are practically all wrapper? Well, these are overflowing with minced pork, surrounded by a thin layer of golden brown crispy lumpia wrapper.

Pork Sinigang (Php279). The Pinoy’s go-to soup dish!

Grilled Liempo (Php249) and Grilled Porkchop (Php249). We Pinoys sure are fans of inihaw! These are juicy, smoky pork belly and pork chop pieces that go so well with good ole’ steamed rice and 121’s very own secret sauce!

Champorado Cheesecake (Php119). The Pinoy’s favorite breakfast cereal is now in cheesecake form! Need I say more?

These specialties are best enjoyed surrounded by your nears-and-dears during a boisterously happy lunch, just like we did!

Many thanks to Daryl and Issa of 121 Restaurant for having us!

By the way, with Zomato Gold, you get a dish free when you dine at 121 Restaurant with a friend. Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 2) deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use the code JELLYB to get 45% off the membership fee.

This 121 Restaurant branch is located at Second Floor, Allegro Center, Pasong Tamo Extension, Magallanes, Makati City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 9am to 1am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 88560529.

Other branches are located at:

121 L. P. Adamson building, Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Ground Floor, Venice Piazza, McKinley Hill, Taguig
Third Floor, BGC Stopover Pavillion, Rizal Drive corner 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Eastwood Citywalk 1, Libis, Quezon City

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a food tasting held in this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

MOS Brings Its Most Popular Burgers to PH Market

MOS Burger, one of the leading burger chains in Japan, is about to give Filipinos a different kind of burger dining experience.

“We have brought our well-loved burgers to the Philippines. Now, you don’t have to go all the way to Japan to have your fill of our best-selling yakiniku rice burger and other burger selections,” said MOS Burger Philippines president Araki Masahide.

Among the MOS Burger top-sellers that have been included in its Philippine menu is the MOS Cheeseburger (Php149). This Japanese-style cheeseburger comes with MOS’ special meat sauce poured over a pile of beef patty, tomato, onion, and cheese.

Not to be missed is the yakiniku rice burger (Php169), the burger that has been strongly identified with the brand since it was introduced in its Japanese stores. It comes with perfectly marinated yakiniku beef with green lollo rosso (lettuce) and onions in an equally delicious rice patty. MOS also offers the natsumi yakiniku (Php189), which is yakiniku wrapped in fresh lollo rosso instead of being sandwiched in a bun or rice patty.

Another popular choice among its diners worldwide is its wagyu burger (Php299), which likewise comes in two options—one with the buns and the other with the rice patties or wagyu rice burger (Php309).

For chicken lovers, a must-try is the teriyaki chicken burger (Php189) with its own version of chicken teriyaki sandwiched with green lollo rosso, sliced onion, and mayonnaise. For those who prefer to have it with MOS’ signature rice patty, there’s the teriyaki chicken rice burger (Php209). Diners can likewise have it with just greens as it offers the natsumi teriyaki chicken (Php209) as well.

MOS also has something for seafood lovers—the seafood tempura rice burger (Php169). It consists of delicious seafood tempura drizzled with flavorful kakiage sauce and sandwiched between MOS’ signature rice patties.

“We only want the best for our Filipino diners. We encourage them to try each burger when they visit our store,” Araki said.

Guests at MOS Burger’s VIP Night, an event held prior to its official store opening at Robinsons Galleria, were treated to this sumptuous array of Japanese-style burgers.

Distinguished guests during the event included Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Koji Haneda, and his wife, Madame Ihoko Haneda; MOS Food Services Chairman Atsushi Sakurada; MOS Food Services Inc. Executive Officer and General Manager of International Headquarters Jun Takifuka; MOS Food Services, Inc. General Manager Hironobu Maehara; and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.

They were welcomed by Araki, MOS Burger Philippines CEO Hubert U. Young, and MOS Burger Philippines Vice President Tateishi Hiroshi.

MOS Burger’s first Philippine store is located at Robinsons Galleria (near the ADB Avenue entrance). It is slated to open branches in SM Megamall, Robinsons Magnolia, Greenhills, Midtown, and Eastwood in the coming months.

Z Hostel and Makati’s Tourism Office offer a different kind of walking tour to the public

The late artist, tour guide and cultural activist Carlos Celdran described Manila as “can be chaotic and spiritual, dirty and divine, gritty and gorgeous all at once.”

The same can be said about the area in Makati known as Poblacion.

Long saddled with the reputation of being the red-light district hiding in the shade of the soaring skyscrapers of Makati’s Central Business District, Poblacion has slowly but surely been shedding its seedier veneer to reveal a place with its own character. It may be crowded and wornout in some places, but it has its own vibrance and local flavor.

Z Hostel, known as “one of the hippest hostels in Makati,” itself stands on what used to be the site of a brothel. Today, it is the place where young travelers and backpackers stay for a few days of comfort and relative luxury.

Z Hostel recently partnered with Makati City’s International Relations Department in offering its Poblacion Walking Tour, not just to the hostel’s guests but also to locals who want to see another side of Poblacion, all for free.

Together with my daughter #ExhibitA, I took part in the tour to check out Poblacion’s happenin’ places.

An alternative to the usual walking tours wherein museums and heritage sites are the destinations of choice, this is essentially a pub crawl which takes its guests around the immediate radius of the hostel to check out some of the establishments they can hang out in (and have a drink or two) during their stay.

Tour guide Jian Miranda, himself a Makati resident for twenty-one years, shared his knowledge and love of the place by picking out spots worthy of note (such as the former drug den turned events venue, where to get the best barbecue in Poblacion and the names – and ingredients – of the streetfood being hawked on street corners) and the stories behind the various joints featured in the tour.

The first stop in the walking tour was Agimat Foraging Bar and Kitchen. With the branches of an old Balete tree serving as the shelves of the bar, Agimat serves up magic and mystery with every drink. Prior to presenting you with your concoction of choice inspired by the four elements apoy (fire), lupa (earth), tubig (water), hangin (air) and buhay (life), the crew would perform a ritual complete with ethnic masks, drums and chants. Being a foraging kitchen and bar, Agimat takes ingredients and culinary influences from various parts of the country to come up with unique and memorable dishes and drinks. It’s definitely worth a second visit.

The second stop of our walking tour was Julyan Coffee Spot, a newly opened coffee shop that also showcases artwork by the owners’ son, Julyan. More than a quiet place to sit and relax while enjoying artisanal coffee, Julyan Coffee Spot is also a social enterprise: it provides training and employment to persons with disability (PWDs). In fact the baristas serving coffee are deaf and communicate by sign language. I’d love to spend more time here with just my laptop and my cuppa joe, to work on my blog, or maybe get around to writing the Next Great Filipino Novel (yeah, I can dream, right?).

Kartel Roofdeck Bar, the next stop in the tour, offers a scenic view of the Makati skyline from the towering buildings in the CBD to the hotels and night spots in the surrounding the area. Here, we were given free shots to help us loosen our reserve and get to know our fellow tourists. I wouldn’t mind a return visit where I can leisurely enjoy a light mocktail along with the cool evening breeze.

The final stop in the walking tour is Kondwi. Set in a big, black, boxy type of building, it actually houses a vibrant cocktail lounge at the ground floor and an exhibit space for artwork on the second floor. The last time I was here was when the upper floor was occupied by the Johnnie Walker Highball Arcade earlier this month. I’d love to see the next exhibits, take part in the salsa dance lessons, as well as taste more of Kondwi’s artistic takes on food and drink.

After the tour, the group was treated to cocktails at the Z Roofdeck. Too bad I wasn’t able to join as #ExhibitA and I had the rush home for our dinner date. Oh well…

The walking tour is primarily geared towards tourists looking for places where they can tipple, but it can also be the springboard for a local foodie’s rediscovery of the gritty and gorgeous Poblacion area.

The Poblacion Walking Tour is offered to Z Hotel guests and, recently, to locals as well every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday T 4pm with Z Hostel as the meeting point. Want to take part in the next Poblacion Walking Tour? Sign up here.

Here are the locations of the places we visited today:

Z Hostel: 5660 Don Pedro St. Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City (Tel: +63 917 8898531 or +63 2 88560851)
Agimat Foraging Bar and Kitchen: Second Floor, 5972 Alfonso Corner Fermina Street, Poblacion, Makati City. (Tel: +63 917 8904039)
Julyan Coffee Spot: 5936 Gloria Street, Poblacion, Makati City (Tel: +63 917 6860895)
Kartel Rooftop Bar: 5921 Algier Street, Poblacion, Makati City (Tel: +63 917 5638811)
Kondwi: 6109 Albert Street,Poblacion, Makati City(Tel: +63 917 7771633)